How to Prevent Mold in a Flooded Bathroom
Whether it's from an overflowing tub, sink, or toilet, a flooded bathroom can happen to the best of us at the most inconvenient times. Water and humidity is the key for mold prevention in any situation. Mold thrives in these conditions and before any cleaning can be done, all of the water must be removed from the bathroom. Use this article as a guide to prevent mold from growing and causing damage in a flooded bathroom. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Wet/dry vacuum
- Sealed plastic containers
- Mop
- Sponge
- Floor disinfectant cleaner
- Dehumidifier
- Fan(s)
- Bath towels
Instructions
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Contain the water that has been flooding the bathroom. Use towels in the doorway to prevent the water from leaking through the rest of your residence.
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2
Remove bathroom rugs and all items on the floor. You can place these in garbage bags or in sealed plastic containers and set them outside or place them directly into a clothes dryer or hang them up to dry.
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Use a wet/dry vacuum to remove the bulk of the water. If you don't own one of these they are readily available at virtually any hardware store.
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Use a disinfecting floor cleaner to mop the floor. Be detailed and get every nook and cranny. You may need to use a sponge to get around the edges of your bathroom and around the edges of your bathtub, toilet, and sink where mold likes to grow.
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5
Place a dehumidifier in the doorway of the bathroom and use the highest setting. This will ensure all moisture is removed. Keep the dehumidifier on for at least two days, remembering to empty it before you are out of the house for extended periods of time. If you do not have a dehumidifier, open the window and use a fan or fans to circulate the air and vent the humidity out of the bathroom.
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Tips & Warnings
To rescue soaked rugs and towels, dry them on a clothesline if at all possible and then wash with detergent and hot water and dry as usual.
Don't try to vacuum the water with anything but a wet/dry vacuum in wet mode.
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty Images
